How Stress Affects Your Oral Health?

If you feel tired or exhausted after a good night’s sleep, or you have pain in your jaws when you wake up - then these are signs of being overly stressed or overworked. Too much stress not only affects your overall health, but it can also cause problems with your mouth, teeth, and gums as well.

A recent survey by the American Dental Association found that the number of patients affected by stress-related dental conditions is on the rise. Hence, while it is essential to manage your stress levels, it is equally important to learn how you can prevent stress from taking a toll on your oral health and smile.

Stress-Related Oral Health Conditions

Bruxism

Many people tend to grind their teeth during stressful situations, such as examinations, job interviews, and presentations. When it is done temporarily, tooth grinding, also known as bruxism, will not have any significant effect on your teeth. However, if it becomes a habit, it can cause significant tooth wear - destroying the outer protective tooth enamel, causing the teeth to become sensitive and more prone to developing teeth cavities.

In addition, bruxism also causes the teeth to become shorter, making it difficult to chew food properly. Another common sign of bruxism is pain in facial muscles when you wake up in the morning. If you feel that you have bruxism, you must visit your dentist in Pasadena at Prestige Dental for immediate diagnosis and treatment.

Temporomandibular Joint Disorders

During stressful situations, excessive tooth grinding or clenching, coupled with the overuses of facial muscles and flattening of the teeth, puts undue pressure on the jaw joints. Over time, the jaw joints start to degrade, resulting in a group of conditions known as the temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs). Typical symptoms of TMDs include:

• Headaches
• Pain in the muscles of the face
• Pain in the jaw joints
• Difficult or limited mouth opening
• Cracking or popping sounds when opening the mouth
• Jaw joint dislocation - in severe conditions

If you have any of the above symptoms, then you must consult your dentist in Pasadena at Prestige Dental immediately, as TMDs should not be taken lightly.

Canker Sores

Canker sores, also known as mouth ulcers, often develop in the mouth when one is going through a stressful phase in life. Canker sores are generally harmless, and they usually go away as soon as the stressful situation ends. However, if you have a canker sore that is not healing even after a few weeks, then you visit your dentist for a checkup - as it might be due to something else.

Gum Disease

Research has shown that individuals under stress often neglect oral hygiene maintenance. Stress also results in the release or cessation of various hormones that can cause increased inflammation of the gum tissues. A study published in the Journal of Oral Medicine and Oral Surgery showed that increased stress also leads to the proliferation of bacteria inside the oral cavity that cause gum disease.

Excess stress or anxiety affects your quality of life. Don’t let stress ruin your oral health and smile. Book an appointment with us today at Prestige Dental, and let us take good care of your dental health and, more importantly, give you a beautiful smile that you can be proud of!